I've been such a highlighted-hair stalker this spring—obviously I'm craving a little brightness in my hair color (after several years of bleach detox). The latest girl to join my list of celebrities with aspirational highlights: Katharine McPhee. But beyond me just loving her natural-looking blond highlights, there's something else interesting I noticed in her photos.
Here's a shot of Katharine at a White House Correspondents Dinner cocktail party. Her hair color looks pretty, but...
...compare to this photo taken on April 28. What a difference some darker roots make!
I'm not sure if Katharine updated her hair color between these two events—it looks like she probably did. But even if this is just a trick of lighting/photography, I think it's a perfect illustration of why dark roots can be so flattering. They add contrast that brings out your eyes and features, preventing highlights from washing you out. That rich lipstick further enhances the multidimensional effect.
That said, I think her hair color looks fabulous in both instances. Goin' in the inspiration file fo sho.
What do you guys think on the topic of darker roots in highlighted hair? Do you like to let your hair color grow out a bit, or do you do an intentionally ombre effect? Or do you prefer your blond highlights to go all the way to your roots?